Timing device



M. H. RHODES TIMING DEVICE Nov. 11;' '1947,

Original Filed Aug. 1. 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nof. 11, 1947.

M. H. RHODES TIMING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original FiledAug. l, 1940FIG.

M. H. RHODES 430,583

Nv. 1l, 1947.

TIMING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. l, 1940 3 sheets-sheet s Flea.

Patented Nov. l1, 1947 are TIMING DEVICE Marcus H. Rhodes, Hartford,-Conn., assignor tol M. H. Rhodes, Inc., Hartford, Conn., avcorporationof Delaware` Original application August 1, 1940, Serial No.y349,119. Divided and, this application October 25, 1943, SerialNo.507,639

Claims. 1i

This invention relates to timing devices, and with regard to certainmoreA speciiic features, to coin-controlled` timing' devices forlindicating the passage of a purchased length of time, as for parkingautomobiles or the like.

This application isa division of my copending application Serial Number349,119, led August l, 1940, which application issued as Patent No.2,369,688, dated February 20, 1945. An application Serial No. 734,650was iiled March 14, 1947, as a division of the present application.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision ofa coin controlled timing device of, the class described which is adaptedto indicate at' all times what portion of a purchased length of time haspassed; the provision of a device ofthe character indicated whichprovides different periods of time upon` the deposit of coins ofdifferent values; the provision of a device of the class described whichis so constructed as to require re-settingv ofthe indicating portionofthe device to a starting or Zero point in order for the operator toobtain the full value of a coin; and the provision of' a device of theclass described whichis substantially fool-prooi in operation, simple inconstruction, and which may be economically made. Other objects will bein part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Thel invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinationsY ofelements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which willbe exemplified inthe structures hereinafter described, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are illustrated several of thepossible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device, embodying the presentinvention;

Fig, 2 is a section takenv along the line- 2 in Fig. 1, but onal1-enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a section, taken along; the line 31-.2-3Y

in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a1 section similary to; Fig. 3, but; showing a differentposition of the mechamsm;

Fig. 5 is aV section taken along the linev 5.1-5,

in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but show.-J

ing a still different position of the mechanism;

Fig. 7.' is a partial. section. similar to- Fig. 2,

but showing. an alternative embodiment of the in-l Fig. 9 is a sectionsimilar to Fig. 8, but showing themechanism in different position; and-Fig. l0 isa section similar toFig. 5l of the alternative embodiment.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

The device of the presenty invention is particularly adapted for use asa so-called4 parking meter which is` usually installed in connectionwithdesignatedparking` spacesfor auto-- mobiles along the curbs of citystreets. The timing device itselfis usually mounted ona post on the curbin proximity tothe designated parking space. The` device is adapted toreceive a coin from a person parking his automobile in the designatedspace, and has means thereon for indicating a duration or period of timecorresponding to the lengthy of time a person` is entitled to park inthe designated space in return for the-valuev of a coin presented.

One of the principal features of the present inventionv is that itindicates progressively ythe gradual expiration offthe purchasedtime'interval, as determined' by the value of a coinv initiallydeposited inthe device. This indication is readily visible at adistance, which greatly facilitates the enforcement of parkingordinances and assures receipt bythe governmental agency of the fullparking fees t0 which it is entitled.

In addition, the present invention assures the governmentalmunicipality'that it will receive full value for the time during whichthe meter registers legalV parking, and that any attempt to cheat themeter will result in the would-be cheater cheating himself, rather thanthe municipality. Another new and' valuable feature is provided themunicipality and the user in that a user of this device may set the timefora lesser timethan the fulltime period'- prescribed by ordinance. Thismay increase the revenue to the municipality, and offerscertainadvantages to the user. In attempting to set previous meters forshort periods, confusion has resulted. The present device may be,`constructed to provide different periods of time upon thev deposit ofcoins of different values.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1` shows a device in which numeral Iindicatesa rectangular casing which has a semi-circular top portion. Thetop part of the front of the casing I has a semi-circular opening 2-preferably holding a glass. Back ofr this is a scale 3 upon which areiigures to indicate the amount of legal parking time remaining. In frontof this scaleand movable thereover by the clockwork mechanism isa semi,-

circular shield 4 which, upon initiating operation of the device, isrotated until it is substantially invisible. Initiation of the operationof the device is carried out by means of a handle 5 (see Fig. 2) whichoperates the setting mechanism uponthe insertion of a coin into the coinslot 6. Shield 4 is attached to a shaft I which is rotated by theclockwork mechanism.

The back of the device is provided with a viewing glass I8, arrangedopposite the place where the coin is held during legal operation of thedevice, and also with an appropriate lock such as a screw lock II.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the device has an appropriate coin receptacleI2 for permanent retention of coins. The receptacle I2 is preferablyremovable from the device so the collector can merely replace it with anempty box and take the coin containing receptacle to a centralcollecting point. If the receptacle I2 is of the type whichautomatically locks upon removal from the device, accurate records ofreceipts from a specific device may be kept, and fraudulent returns bythe collector are made dicult. A temporary coin receiver I3 is connectedto receptacle I2 and opposite receiver I3 is located a viewing glass Iwhich may preferably be constructed as a magnifying glass.

Fig. 3 shows the device ready for the reception of a coin. Numeral I4indicates a circular wall or cylinder which is preferably formedintegrally with a plate I5, as by die casting, and acts to preventinsertion of a coin except at the intended place. 'I'he cylinder I4 isnot a complete cylinder, it being provided with a relatively wideopening I6. rI'he plate I5 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft II, uponwhich is also mounted the handle 5. The opposite end of shaft I'Icarries cam I8 which cooperates with member I9, mounted on plate I5 bypin 6i), to cause rotation of the plate I5 and cylinder I4 in onedirection, but not in the other. Spring 20 mounted on plate I5 retainsmember I9 in position for cooperation with cam I8. Movably mounted onplate I5 are arms 2| and 22 by means of rivet 23.` Spring 24, attachedto plate I5 yby means of rivet 25 and to arm 2l at opening 26, positionsarm 2l in the proper relationship to the remainder of the device.Similarly, arm 22 is positioned by spring 21 attached to plate I5 withrivet 28 and to arm 22 by opening 29. Spring 24 is stronger than spring21 and they are adjusted so that in the Fig. 3 position spring 21 iselongated. Projection 30 on arm 2| which projects through opening 3I inplate I5, .controls and limits the movement of arm 2I in cooperationwith wedge 32 located between plate I5 and the back of` the device.Located below plate I5 is coin holder 33 adapted to temporarily suspendthe coin opposite viewing window I0 prior to deposit thereof in coin boXI2. The coin is held by bar 314 which projects thereunder.Y Projectingportion 35 of holder 33 cooperates with hook 36 on arm 22 to drop thecoin when the device is operated to re-set it. Positioned adjacent themember 33 is V-shaped element 31, mounted on pin 38. Element 3'!cooperates with cams 39, located on the screw lock II, to release thecoin from holder 33.

In front of the setting mechanism is located a triangular shaped dog 48.It is mounted on the shaft 'I -Which carries the clockwork mechanismindicated generally at 4I. The dog 45 winds the clockwork mechanism uponinitiation of operation of the device by the plate I5 and membersassembled therewith. Lug 42 (see Fig. 2) on arm 2l is positioned tocontact dog 40 under certain conditions of operation, and carry out thewind-v ing operation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the plate I5 assembly is in the positionk shown in Fig. 3 with theopening I6 opposite the coin chute 6, it is ready to receive a coin 43which is inserted through the coin slot 5 and drops into thesemi-circular segment 49 of arm 2l, as indicated. A movablecoin-retaining member 5I prevents removal of the coin after insertion.If the handle 5 is now rotated, carrying with it plate I5 and assembly,projecting portion 30 attached to arm 2I contacts wedge 32 tensioningspring 24 and moving arm 2| toward the center of the assembly. Thispermits the coin '43 to assume by gravity the position shown in Fig. 4,Where it is held between the minor semi-circular segment 44 of arm 2l,and the interior Wall 45 of the case I. This retains the tension inspring 24,.while at the same time the tension in spring 21 has beenreleased because the pin 45, attached to arm 2I, which imposed Vthetension upon spring 2l through arm 22 as shown in Fig. 3, by themovement of arm 2l, has been moved away from the projecting portion 51of arm 22. With the coin in position as shown in Fig. 4, lug 42 on arm2l is brought into position to contact dog Lil), as shown in Fig. 4.Releasing the tension in spring 2l has dropped arm 22 to the positionlikewise shown in Fig. 4, where it contacts projecting portion 35 ofholder 33 by means of hook 35. Further rotation of the handle 5 and theplate I5 assembly trips the coin holder 33 to drop the coin heldtemporarily before window I3 into the coin box I2, and likewise beginswinding the timing mechanism. Continuing rotation of the handle 5 untilthe arm Y. 22 has passed holder 33, allows holder 33 to fall back intoposition by gravity, -but continues winding the clockwork mechanism.This winding continues until the opening I5 is brought opposite the coinslot 43, which connects with the V`temporary coin receiver I3. When theycoin 43 reaches this position, it is discharged into the temporary coinholder, releasing the tension on spring 24, so that the device is againin the condition shown in Fig. 3. In this position rotation of thehandle 5 without a coin will not operate either the winding mechanismthrough dog 4I) or the coin-releasing mechanism of holder 33, since lug42 cn arm 2l clears dog 40, and hook 35 on arm 22 clears projectingportion 35 on holder 33.

As soon as the winding of the clockwork mechanism, by means of dog 53,ceases, as by the operator releasing handle 5 or by the dropping of coin43 into the temporary `coin receiver I3, the clockwork begins to drivethe shield 4 over scale 3. The winding mechanism and the clockwork areadjusted so that sufficient winding is given by the rotation of dog 4B,as described above, to operatethe shield 4 over the scale 3 for the fulltime or any portion of time purchased.

If it is attempted to rotate the plate assembly I5 only part way,thereby only partially winding the clockwork mechanism with theintention of allowing the device to operate for a time, then to returnand again partially wind the device or to complete the windingoperation, thus obtaining an additional period of time for the moneydeposited, no such operation is permitted by the instant device,although it is permissible to release the handle for a `comparativelyshort period 0f time, and then continue the winding operation, isaccomplished. by the. shape otthe arm 2|:, and associated mechanisms,

This construction also provides.: theY user: with a new means to set thetime for a shorter period than the fulltime where said' user isV'desirous of staying a very short period. Users have been known tobecome confused.' in attempting to operate other devices; fror shortertime periods..

It will. be seeny that this. new method not only intercepts the wouldYbe cheater but eliminates confusionto some of the users and it providesgreater revenue to the municipality than previous meters that had tobeset to-full time before an illegal Warning flag would clear;

Assuming now that winding of the device is discontinued after theclockwork is partially' wound, and not resumed after a comparativelyshort delayed period of time, the-clockwork mechanism willl operate'during this period, driving the shieldt and the plate I5 assembly bymeans of lug 42 in theV opposite direction. This delayed time period isIan improvement over similar previous devices where instantaneous actionresulted inthe user being cheated and confused by such instances as thehand" slipping off and losing the coin often before any time wassecured; Coin d3 is in frictional engagement with interi-or wall it andlthis friction holds the coin stationary while. the clockwork moves arm2l. After a comparatively short period of time the coin will pass fromthe portion t@ of arm 2l into the portion. d'9'. Portion l9is. muchdeeper than` portion 44' and. serves to accommodate the coin withoutimposing ten.- sion upon spring 215'. Releasingv this. tension oi'spring 2.1i removes lug ft2 from contact with dog d0, so. that asubsequent. attempt. to complete. theV operation ofY winding. is.defeated, since lug 42. does. not contact dog to, and turning handle 5;only results in` the coin. being rotated. into a position to b e.discharged into. the chute t8, and thence into. temporary receiver t3.From this itis clear that the attempt. to cheat the meter has resultedonly in the perpetrator cheating liimscl-r", since he obtains only theportion of the time which` has been woundA on; the meter before hediscontinuedv winding.

It is permissible to discontinue winding. for a comparatively shorttime, however, since it may be resumedI at any time before operation!of-the. clockwork mechanism has released lug.y 152i from dog d. throughthe tension in spring 2li.

Referring' now to Fig. 5, av member 5.5.- isr mounted on shaft lf tofbelrotary with the clock:- work mechanism: Thismember has a. projectingportion 5;!- Whiclr cooperates with a lf-shaped. member 52' rotatablymound-:d on; a pin iti tcm operate coin. holder- 3-3; through projectione5.. The projection 5t is positioned so that upon expiration of thepurchased, parking time, this projection contacts V-shapedfmember 52,.andmoves the temporary coin helder 33 to drop the coin into the coinbox. l2; rIihe coin therefore drops into temporary coin receiver i3 uponinitiation operation of the device, andV is dropped therefrom intor coinbox. l2 as soon as the purchased time has been exhausted. The presenceot they coin, therefore, which is visible through window l0, acts as asignal to the patrolling oflicer and to the public that the device is.measuring purchased time, rather than overtime.

Practically assoon as. the parkeircommences tol turn the cran-k and.before lug lifcontactgs dog it to set anyl time, the previous parkerscoin is automatically dropped into the coin box if it has not. alreadydropped upon occurrence. of one of they events previously described..IThis dropping of the previous. coin setsV up: an indicationtothepatrolling, oflicer,y to the parken. and to. the public. One coindoes not. contact another in.- the winding mechanism, so. that there isno possibili-ty oftwo coinstelescoping. rPhe presence of the window t5'-on the back of the device operatesas a signal to' the patrolling ofcerthrough the` presence or l absence of a coin showing therethrough,

The present device also effectively preventscheating by the parkerthrough an incompletewinding of the apparatus. Releasing the handleA fora short time, inthe interest of convenience,

1 does notvv result in a loss of the coin, but allowingl theI deviceto-operate-ina partly wound condition for a matter of two minutes,approximately, will result in aloss of the remaining time, and anina-bility by the parker to finish the operation which heA began.

Referring now to Figures '7, 8, 9 and l0, an alterna-tive form of theinvention is shown. This embodiment is particularly useful where themeter. is to operate with coins of different values, to provide acorresponding purchased time interval. A coin receiver 6'2 is shown,which may be of the type illustrated, or may be. of the same form asthecoin-receiving member 2l shown in the previous embodiment. In thepresent instance, pin. E53 cooperates with the coin and the rim t5; ofthe case to hold coin receiver 62 in position. A spring 6d mounted onpin 65, andpassing through an opening (it in coin receiver 62, functionssimilarlytoy the spring 24 in the previous embodil-ments The coinureceiver t2 has a projecting lug t2, as before, adapted to operate themechanism, andE at the same time, to set the device. Dog dlicooperateswith lug t2 in the same manner described? previously'. However, there isan additional dog 61- which is rotatably mounted on shaft 7, andcooperates with a U-shaped mem.- ber 58g which likewise is mounted uponshaft 1. Dog 6T has a projection 69 adapted to engage.

K Uf-sha-pedV member 68, and a second projecting engage the portion 'Itof dog 6i.

portion 1.0 which cooperates with lug l2 in a manner to be described'.

The operation of this alternative form of the device will be describedin terms of its use with Vpennies and nickels.

Coin receiver 62, together with its integrally formed l'ug 42S, isadjusted so that when a penny isinserted it occupies the position shownin solid lines i'n Fig. 9. The lug 42 is thereby positioned sof that itwill olea-r the end of dog Al, but will Then as handle 5 rotates theplate t5 and assembly thereon with a penny iin position as shown inFigure 9, the rotation will continue without result until the dog 6l;has been rotated sufficiently far to contact L-J-shaped membery 68 bymeans of projecting portion 69a Dogl 67' then operates upon the U.-shaped assembly Se to rotate the shaft TI Winding the clockworkmechanism, and setting the timeindicating means to the proper position.In the embodiment shown, dog 61 and U-shapedmember Sf are formed in sucha way that this rotation by means ofr a penny will operate to set a timeofy about twelve minutesv upon the meter beforel thel opening I5 incylinder It comes opposite' the coinchute. d3, and drops the cointhereinto; vThe approximate point at which lug t2; and dog# 61 begin tooperate the winding and setting operation just described, is indicatedat the dotted section 'H' in Fig. 9L

If, instead of a penny, a nickel is inserted,

the coin receiver 62 will occupy the dotted-line position shown in Fig.9. The lug d2 will then be positioned so that as the rotation of thehandle 5 is carried out, lug d2 contacts dog 40 to set the mechanism inthe manner described in connection with the previous embodiments of theinvention. Dog 61 being movably mounted on the shaft, moves with doglli! and has no effect upon the mechanism. Dog 4i) is positioned so thatthe entire sixty-minute interval (see Fig. 1) will be set, rather thanthe approximately twelveminute interval set by dog 6l when a penny isemployed.

An alternative form of temporary coin holder is likewise illustrated.Member 'i2 is centrally located in the space 48 and springingly operatesto retain a coin therein until a subsequent coin is discharged into thespace 48 to force the previous coin out and into the permanentcoinreceiving box l2. A window I0 is likewise provided for the purposeindicated previously.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of theinvention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:Y

1. A coin-controlled timing device comprising a rotatably mountedcoin-carrier, a coin receiver having a coin receiving space mounted onsaid carrier, actuating means for rotating the carrier in one directiononly, means for admitting a coin to said space at one predeterminedangular position of the carrier, means forreleasing the coin from thespace at a second predetermined angular position of the carrier, aclockworks, connecting means adapted when the carrier is between saidangular positions and a coin is in said space to form a reversibledriving connection between the carrier and theclockworks, said carrierbeing rotatable in a reverse direction solely by said clockworks, andmeans for releasing the coin from said space when the carrier is drivenin a reverse direction by the clockworks after an incompleted windingoperation.

2. A coin-controlled timingdevice comprising a rotatably mountedcoin-carrier, a stationary bearing surface adjacent the periphery ofsaid carrier, a coin receiver having a coin receiving space mounted onsaid. carrier, means biasing the receiver toward the bearing surface, aclockworks, means forming a reversible driving connection between saidcarrier and the clockworks when the receiver is spaced from the bearingsurface by a coin positioned in said space, actuating means for rotatingthe carrier in one direction only to wind the clockworks, said carrierbeing rotatable in a reverse direction solely by said clockworks, meansfor positioning a coin in said space at -one predetermined angularposition of the carrier, and means for releasing a coin from said spaceat a second predetermined angular position of the carrier, said coinreceiving space having anexit for releasing the coin intermediate saidpositions of the carrier upon reverse rotation of the carrier byunwinding of the clockcoin receiving spaces in side by side relationshipwith means to permit transfer of a coin therebetween, means for rotatingthe carrier in one direction, means for positioning a coin in the rst ofsaid spaces at a predetermined angular position of the carrier, aclockworks, connecting means adapted only when a coin is in said rstspace to form a reversible driving connection between the carrier andthe clockworks, said means being adapted to transfer the coin from thesaid iirst space to a second space rendering the driving connectioninoperable when the carrier is rotated in a reverse direction by theclockworks, and means for releasing a coin from either of said spacesafter rotation of the carrier through a predetermined angle.

4. A coin-controlled timing device comprising a rotatably mountedcoin-carrier, a stationary bearing surface adjacent the periphery ofsaid carrier, a coin receiver mounted on the carrier and biased towardsaid bea-ring surface having a plurality of coin receiving spaces, saidspaces being arranged in side by side relationship whereby a coin seatedin the rst of said spaces will frictionally engage said bearing surfaceand remain seated in the first space during rotation of the carrier inone direction and will move to and seat in the second of said spacesupon rotation of the carrier in a reverse direction, actuating means forrotating the carrier in said one direction, a clockworks, connectingmeans adapted only when a coin is positioned in said first space to forma reversible driving connection between the carrier and the clockworks,means for positioning a deposited coin in said first space at a rstpredetermined angular position of the carrier, and means for releasingthe coin from said spaces at a second predetermined angular position ofthe carrier.

5. A coin-controlled timing device comprising l a rotatably mountedcoin-carrier, a stationary bearing surface adjacent the periphery ofsaid carrier, a coin receiver mounted on the coin carrier and biasedtoward said bearing surface having a plurality of coin receiving spaces,said spaces being arranged in side by side relationship and of differentdepth whereby the receiver may be spaced at varying distances from thebearing surface by a coin positioned in said spaces, said coin beingmoved to the space of greater depth by friction with the bearing surfaceupon rotation of the'carrier in one direction, actuating means forrotating the carrier in the reverse direction, -means for positioning acoin in the space of least depth at one predetermined angular positionof the carrier, a clockworks, means forming a reversible drivingconnection between the clockworks and the carrier when the receiver isspaced by a coin in the space of least depth, and means for releasingthe coin from said spaces after rotation of the carrier through apredetermined angle.

MARCUS H. RHODES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,799,056 Miller et al Mar. 31,1931 2,304,012 Neff Dec. l, 1942 2,281,514 Rhodes Apr. 28, 19422,289,838 Herschede et al July 14, 1942

